EditorialNews in IndiaNews Outside IndiaPanchajanyaDivine MusicNew book Releasesdigitized bookspanchangam108 Holy LandsSacred Templeschildren's sectionArchives

Sri: Chinna Jeeyar Swa:mi's 2007 Houston Trip - a report

Correspondent: Sri Kalyan, US.  

The year 2007 has been a wonderful year for all the bhagavathas in US as our beloved Acharyan Sri: Sr:i Sri: Tridandi Srimanna:ra:yana Ra:ma:nuja Chinna Jeeyar Swa:miji has graced us by visiting US three times this year. SWA:MIJI came to Houston, Texas on October 19th 2007 for the opening ceremony of Vedic Learning Center at Ashta Lakshmi temple and will be gracing us till November 1st 2007 when He leaves to Bharat from Dallas, Texas. Bhagavathas in Houston and who came from various parts of US are really blessed to celebrate Vijaya Dasami along with swa:miJI. Everyday's prorgrams start with a theertha goshti from 9 am to 10 am during which there is a beautiful chanting of Vedic hymns, Divya Prabandham, other Shlo:kas. Sri: Swa:miji will perform thiruva:ra:dhana to His Sri Rama Parivaram and bha:gavathas receive teertham directly from His Holiness.  

October 20, 2007 
There was theertha goshti in the morning around 10 am along with the Seva:ka:lam chanting divya prabandhams by various bhagavathas. Sri swa:miji has performed thiruvaradhana to His Sri Rama Pariva:ram and gave theertham to all the bhagavathas present there. The house reverberated with the voice of bha:gavathas chanting prabandhams.  

There was an excellent Ba:la Bho:gam(morning offerings) with Bhagavad Prasa:dam following the theertha goshti. At 11 am, swa:miji reached the Ashta Lakshmi temple along with all the bhagavathas. Sri swa:miji gave a wonderful discourse on the unconditional love of Lord Srimannarayana on us. He explained the meaning of true love by taking the example of the love of King Dasaratha towards Lord Sri Rama. Similarly Lord shows unconditional love towards us without expecting anything in return. When we can reciprocate to His love and surrender to Him completely then His happiness knows no bounds. So He is the happiest when we surrender to Him. 

swa:miji also explained about the importance of the Maha:rnavami day (the day before Vijaya Dasami). swa:miji explained about the role of our divine mother Lakshmi in recommending us to the Lord and inspiring Him to protect us. After the wonderful discourse, bhagavad prasadam(sacred food) was offered for lunch from 1pm.  

In the evening, there was a collective Vishnu Sahasranama Pa:raya:nam from 6.30 pm to 7pm by the devotees. swa:miji joined in the final stage of the pa:ra:yanam and recited Vishnu Sahasranamam. Later, swa:miji started a discourse and this time He explained in great detail about the way to reach to the Lord. Swamji quoted Bhagavad Gita slokas of Lord Krishna asking us to have attachment with Him to come out of the karmic bondage. swa:miji explained about the wonderful interpretation of Bhagavad Gita slokas by our Purva Acharyas. He explained that we surrender to our divine mother Lakshmi for her to recommend on behalf of us to the Lord in protecting us. swa:miji explained about the love of our divine mother towards us and how she provokes the Lord to save us from this bondage. Sri swa:miji explained the importance of our divine mother Lakhsmi and her eight forms (Ashta Lakshmi). He explained about the worship of our divine mother for eight nights starting from the month of Asweeyuja Pa:dyami to Ashtami and then about her form as Sami tree. The discourse was finished around 9.30 pm in the night and the prasa:dam was offered for the dinner. 
 

October 21, 2007 
The main day of the event arrived with lot of auspiciousness in it. The day again started with a theertha goshti. Prior to that, there had been a sevaka:lam with chanting of Thirupallyechi, Thirupallandu, Thiruppavai and few other sthothras. Around 11 am, curtains were open and we had a wonderful darshan of Sri Chakravarthy Thirumagan Perumal along with His Pariva:ram and most importantly our Acharyan. swa:miji explained the importance of that day which is Vijaya Dasami and also Thirunakshatram of Bhoodathazhwar in brief. Later, He gave the theertham to all the devotees. There was a ba:la bhogam with delicious parama:nnam.  

At 1 pm swa:miji started the discourse in the temple and explained about the importance of Navara:tri festival. swa:miji gave a wonderful explanation about the name “Nava ra:tri” given by our Pu:rva Acharyas. At 2 pm there was grand opening celebration of the Vedic Learning Center.  

Swa:miji entered the hall after Perumal stepped in. Swa:miji has sanctified the whole building inside with holy water. Then all the devotees followed the footsteps of swa:miji and entered the hall. Then there was a formal celebration of handing over the authority of temple to JET USA. Later, Swa:miji conducted Sri Venkateswara Pu:ja with the devotees. Swa:miji explained how to invite the Lord into our hearts and how should we treat Him. There was a small break after the puja and then the important Sami: puja was conducted under the guidance of swa:miji by His disciples.

Swa:miji explained about the significance of Sami plant and how it energizes the knowledge and wealth of the devotees. The puja was conducted in an extraordinary way with wonderful explanation by swa:miji. The puja was concluded at 8.30 pm and was followed by devotional music program by Sriman Parthasarathy.  

Swa:miji is staying in Houston till October 24, 2007. He is then leaving to Dallas, TX and conducts Sri Lakshmi Narayana Puja and Vikastharangini training camp till November 1st 2007.  

Please visit www.chinnajeeyar.org for more details about the trip to Houston and Dallas.